Margaret Groton

Somers, New York

With the new AAP fine arts curriculum, I have the freedom to immerse myself in everything that interests me and the unique opportunity to inform my art through myriad subjects.

Why did you choose Cornell and AAP?

I always knew I wanted to be a fine arts major, but I also wished to be exposed to multiple worlds of knowledge. Art is not a one background skill. Great art takes a grand variety of understandings; therefore I chose a university over a traditional art school. I chose Cornell because it has the biggest student body in the Ivy League, tons of diversity, and a campus that might as well be art itself. With the new AAP fine arts curriculum, I have the freedom to immerse myself in everything that interests me and a unique opportunity to inform my art through myriad subjects. I could not be more satisfied with the way I get to tailor my curriculum to suit my multiple passions. In this way, I have grown so much as an artist just in my first semester.

What experiences have contributed to your sense of belonging at AAP?

Making friends within my department who are so like-minded yet so different in background from me has been an unmatchable experience.

What are your extracurricular interests and how have you incorporated them into your college life?

Beyond art, I'm interested in writing, music, and culture. I have been able to take classes and/or join clubs concerning all three through a creative writing class, a poetry magazine, a culture magazine, and a music club where we listen and talk about the best records ever made. No matter what passions you have beyond what's covered in AAP, there is a way for you to pursue them at Cornell and tons of people who share them with you.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time at AAP and after graduation?

I hope to have at least one show a year in the student galleries at Tjaden Hall. I hope that my artwork continues to grow and contribute to important conversations regarding culture and society. I hope that I graduate with a portfolio that I'm extremely proud of and that clearly shows my progression into an artist who alters the way the world is viewed.

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